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Boosters argue that Kansas City could become a hub for health care jobs if the measure passes. They point to a study by the Battelle Memorial Institute that says the program could create 73 new jobs and have a $14.2 million direct impact on the Kansas City regional economy.

Battelle, a company already involved in medical research, said the number of jobs would grow over the first decade of the proposed tax increase's 20-year life.

Opponents argue that 73 jobs isn't much for the first year of the tax. They also said they suspect the Translational Medical Institute might hire a lot of people who are already working in medical research in Kansas City.

The website AllHealth.org said Kansas City is already 13th on its list of the top 25 cities for health care jobs.

Supporters also argue in their commercials that an independent auditor has assured that taxpayer investments will be protected. The ballot issue's organizing document lays out how the tax will be used, including the creation of a special five-member panel to oversee spending.

The panel is supposed to make sure that there are independent fiscal and performance audits being done to assure the Jackson County Legislature and other local boards that the tax is generating the economic development that's being promised. Those reports will be public documents.

Opponents

An opposition commercial paid for by Citizens for Fairness points out that Jackson County mailed incorrect property tax assessments to tens of thousands of taxpayers earlier this year.

The claim is accurate and it led to a shakeup in Jackson County.

Opponents also said they haven't seen the study from the Battelle Memorial Institute to investigate the claim of 73 new jobs and $14 million in economic impact. They said that at the very least, many of those jobs may go to people already working in the industry in Kansas City.

The opposition commercial also said the tax does not provide a basic service like police and fire protection or trash pickup, asking why taxpayers should have to foot the bill.

Boosters argue that government money already supports academic and medical research at universities and the National Institutes of Health.